C&L Aviation Group has partnered with ScioTeq to develop a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the DU-875 NG Light cockpit display, offering operators of selected Cessna business jets and Embraer ERJ 135/145 aircraft a replacement for ageing Honeywell DU-870 CRT displays.
C&L is developing the STC and will serve as the exclusive distributor of the upgraded display worldwide. The installation will cover Cessna Excel, Encore, Ultra and Bravo aircraft, alongside the Embraer ERJ 135/145 family.
The DU-875 NG Light is designed as a drop-in replacement for the legacy DU-870, retaining compatibility with existing cockpit configurations. The upgrade is intended to address growing obsolescence and supportability challenges associated with the older displays while minimising the scope of modifications required.
Chris Kilgour, CEO of C&L Aviation Group, said, “Through this partnership with ScioTeq, C&L continues to deliver innovative and reliable solutions that support operators in avoiding obsolescence. Many operators have been searching for a cost-effective replacement for the aging DU-870 display, which faces increasing supportability challenges. Until now, there has not been a viable, safe alternative available. Our goal is to make these upgrades accessible, reliable, and as cost-effective as possible.”
According to the companies, the new units offer lower power consumption, reduced weight, and a higher mean time between failures (MTBF) than the legacy displays. These improvements are expected to support greater dispatch reliability, reduce maintenance requirements and lower operating costs.
The displays will retain support for existing cockpit applications, including primary flight display (PFD), multifunction display (MFD) and engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS) symbology. Operators are also expected to benefit from minimal aircraft downtime and no additional pilot training requirements.
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Diederik Vandorpe, Co-CEO of ScioTeq, stated, “The DU-875 NG Light gives operators a reliable, cost-effective path to address DU-870 obsolescence with a plug-and-play solution backed by ScioTeq’s proven avionics display expertise.”
For MRO providers, the programme offers a potential route to address cockpit display obsolescence through a certified replacement solution. Once the STC is approved, the upgrade could help maintenance organisations and operators sustain older aircraft fleets while limiting installation complexity and associated downtime.
